MANCHESTER'S hopes of a speedy return to National One after being relegated last season are over after their 32-20 defeat at Bracknell on Saturday.

That left them in mid-table and no longer in the running for promotion.

Coach Dave Baldwin said: "We don't deserve to be up there. We played some nice rugby in the first half of the season to put ourselves into contention, but since then seem to have rested on our laurels."

A late rally was not enough, despite the enterprise of returning Kiwi wing Dave Wood, to salvage any points.

No such problems for Macclesfield, who kept alive their promotion hopes in National Three North with a 46-12 win over New Brighton at Priory Park.

Forwards coach Dave Muckalt sparked a seven-try blitz on the Merseysiders by grabbing the first.

In National One, Sedgley Park took another step to safety with a 46-27 victory over London Welsh. Blair Feeney scored the opening try, and his kicking kept Sedgley in charge.

John Feeley went on to score two tries, and others came from Jon Skurr, scrum-half Dave McCormack and Arno de Jager.

Orrell, however, are doomed to the drop into National Two, but at least they are going down fighting. They hosted promotion chasers Plymouth Albion and only went down 32-27.